Take a deep dive into the whales of Aotearoa New Zealand to discover their spiritual and cultural significance.
Duration
5 weeksWeekly study
3 hours100% online
How it works
The Significance of Whales to Aotearoa New Zealand
Learn from the experts at Te Papa Museum of New Zealand
This four-week course tells a story of Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) that weaves together natural heritage, Māori culture, colonial history, and the forging of the country it is today. This one, however, tells that story through a perhaps unexpected vehicle – that of the whales of AoNZ.
With expert insights from Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand), you’ll look to the past to understand the present and to better navigate the challenges of the future.
Discover the whales in New Zealand
You’ll start by exploring the biology, evolution, and diversity of the whales of AoNZ and what makes the country a global whale hotspot.
From baleen to toothed whales, you’ll discover the captivating creatures in New Zealand’s waters.
Explore the cultural significance of whales to the Māori people
The whales of the South Pacific are extraordinary, with unique species, cultures, and behaviours.
They also have a deep cultural connection with the earliest Māori, both physically and spiritually. You’ll explore how this persists today in fascinating and beautiful ways.
Discover the history of whaling in AoNZ and modern whale conservation efforts
After Cook, the first meetings between Māori and the wider world came in the form of whalers. You’ll discover the history of whaling and in particular, the role whaling played in the early European settlement of New Zealand.
Finally, you’ll explore modern approaches to whale strandings, threats, and conservation. You’ll gain a unique perspective on conservation as you develop sensitivities to various cultural considerations in a bicultural society.
By the end of the course, you’ll understand whales and conservation through a bicultural lens.
Syllabus
Week 1
The secret lives of whales
Welcome to the Course!
Welcome to the course! Let's dive in, get to know each other, and get an idea what this course is all about.
What is a whale?
How did a hoofed, furred land mammal wind up with underwater descendants? And how do those descendants adapt to live in the deep sea when they still breathe air?
Meet the locals
Meet some of the whale species that can be found in the waters of the South Pacific, and learn about some of the incredible habits and adaptations that make them so fascinating.
Lovers, friends, and foes
The social intelligence and connections of cetaceans has long been fascinating to humans. In this article, we explore the complex communication, culture, and relationships both within whale families, and between different species.
Wrap up and connect
Let's reflect on everything we covered this week
Week 2
Whales in Māori and Pacific cultures
Welcome to Week Two
Welcome to week two!
Legends of tohorā
Whales have significant cultural and spiritual significance in Māori culture, and in the wider Pacific.
Whale ivory taonga
Let's dive into the Te Papa Collections to see the ways precious whalebone was (and is) used by Māori, and other cultures in the Pacific, in the production of high-status taonga (treasures) used for adornment, tools, and weaponry.
Gift from the sea
Aotearoa New Zealand is a whale stranding hotspot. Though today the first response to them is conservation and rescue, for Māori they were and are considered a gift, providing rich cultural resources to local iwi (tribes).
Wrap up and connect
Let's reflect on everything we covered this week
Week 3
There she blows
Welcome to Week Three
Welcome to week three!
There she blows
The peak of the whaling boom was an intense time, leading to significant social change for both Māori and settlers. Whaling became a goldrush, driving rapid industrialisation.
Clashes and connections
The whaling boom brought early whalers from around the world into close contact with the indigenous Māori of Aotearoa New Zealand. This meeting of cultures took many forms; partnership, trading, marriage, and open conflict.
Life as a whaler
Let's take a closer look at what life was like for early whalers, some of the products of their hard work, how the end of whaling came about, and the birth of the 'save the whales' movement.
Wrap up and connect
Let's reflect on everything we covered this week.
Week 4
Protection in a sea of perils
Welcome to Week Four
Welcome to week four!
Close encounters
A brief look at some famous dolphins that have found their way into the nation's hearts and how they drove the creation of marine mammal protections in Aotearoa new Zealand.
Threats
The threats facing the whales of the Pacific (and the world) today, are varied and many. Let's look at some of the biggest ones.
Kaitiaki/Guardians
Despite the myriad threats facing them, there is hope for both cetacean protection in Aoteareoa and the conservation of the cultural practices associated with them, thanks to the dedication of several groups and individuals.
For our future
There are larger things that can be done to protect the future of whales and dolphins, their ecosystem, and our wider world. In this section we look at just some of these
Wrap up and connect
Let's reflect on everything we covered this week.
Week 5
Additional week for self-study
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Identify the variety of cetaceans found in Aotearoa New Zealand waters
- Compare the different ways cetacean species, eat, sleep, hunt, migrate and form relationships
- Explore the cultural and spiritual significance of whales to the Māori people
- Classify some of the significant objects made of whale ivory by Māori and other Pacific cultures
- Describe the early whaling industry and its role in Aotearoa New Zealand’s colonial and bicultural history
- Describe modern approaches to whale strandings and conservation through a bicultural lens.
- Explain the variety of threats whales and dolphins face today, and approaches to mitigate them
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone who is curious about the biodiversity of whales, the deep cultural and spiritual meaning of whales to the Māori people.
It will also be useful for anyone interested in history, biology, and the cultures of the South Pacific.
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Te Papa’s vision for the future is to change hearts, minds, and lives.
Our role is to be a forum for the nation to present, explore, and preserve the heritage of its cultures and knowledge of the natural environment. Te Papa was established with this role by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Act 1992.
Established
1992Location
Wellington, Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
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Choose the best way to learn for you! | $79/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 12 Mar 2025 |
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Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$79/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 12 Mar 2025
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. |
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
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